Cartridge

ABSTRACT

A cartridge from which a staple refill cannot be taken out until all sheet-like connected staple is discharged. A cartridge is drawably provided in a stapler body and has a receiving room for receiving a staple refill, an engagement member with which one side of the staple refill is engaged, and a lock member for locking the engagement member. The lock member has a contact portion that comes in contact with a sheet-like connected staple, discharged from a discharge opening of the staple refill, when the staple refill is received in the receiving room. When the contact portion is in contact with the sheet-like connected staple, the lock member locks the engagement member to prevent separation of the staple refill.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cartridge which is drawably providedin a stapler and equipped with a storage chamber detachablyaccommodating a staple refill.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Conventionally, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent ApplicationLaid-Open No. 2002-200573 (Patent Document 1), the cartridge provided inthe stapler is drawably attached to a stapler main body. The cartridgeincludes a storage chamber, and the staple refill is detachably attachedto the storage chamber. A sheet-like connected staple wound in a rollshape is stored in the staple refill, and a leading end portion of thesheet-like connected staple is discharged from a discharge port of thestaple refill. Accordingly, in usage of the stapler, the cartridge isdrawn from the stapler main body to mount the staple refill on thecartridge, and the cartridge on which the staple refill is mounted ispressed into the stapler main body.

In the conventional cartridge, even if the sheet-like connected stapleremains in the staple refill, the staple refill can be taken off.Therefore, the staple refill can be taken off from the cartridge whilethe sheet-like connected staple is partway discharged from the dischargeport of the staple refill. In this case, the sheet-like connected stapleis broken, which results in a problem that an obstacle such as cloggingis generated.

In view of the foregoing, an object of the invention is to provide acartridge in which the staple refill cannot be detached when thesheet-like connected staple remains and the sheet-like connected staplecan be drawn from the staple main body while the staple refill ismounted when the obstacle such as the clogging is generated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In order to achieve the object, there is provided a cartridge accordingto a first aspect of the invention which is drawably provided in astapler main body, wherein a storage chamber, an engaging member, and alock member are provided in the cartridge main body, a staple refillbeing detachably stored in the storage chamber, the engaging memberengaging one side of the staple refill stored in the storage chamber,the lock member locking the engaging member, and the lock member has anabutting portion which abuts on a sheet-like connected staple dischargedfrom a discharge port of the staple refill when the staple refill isstored in the storage chamber, the lock member is configured to lock theengaging member to prevent the release of the staple refill when theabutting portion abuts on the sheet-like connected staple, and the lockmember is configured to unlock the engaging member to enable the releaseof the staple refill when the abutting portion does not abut on thesheet-like connected staple.

In order to achieve the object, there is provided a cartridge accordingto a second aspect of the invention, wherein the lock member isoscillatably provided in the cartridge main body, the abutting portionis formed at one end of the lock member and a latch portion is formed atthe other end, the abutting portion emerges into the storage chamber toa but on the sheet-like connected staple through a through-hole formedin the cartridge main body, and in the latch portion, the lock memberoscillates in a latching direction of the latch portion to latch theengaging member when the abutting portion abuts on the sheet-likeconnected staple, and the lock member oscillates in an unlatchingdirection of the latch portion to unlatch the engaging member when theabutting portion does not abut on the sheet-like connected staple.

In order to achieve the object, there is provided a cartridge accordingto a third aspect of the invention which is attached to a stapler forbinding sheets of paper with a staple, the cartridge comprising astorage chamber in which a staple refill is detachably stored, thestaple refill accommodating the staple; an engaging member whichprevents the release of the staple refill from the storage chamber byengaging the staple refill stored in the storage chamber; and a lockmember which latches the engaging member to prevent the release of theengagement between the staple refill and the engaging member, whereinthe lock member includes an abutting portion which abuts on the stapleaccommodated in the staple refill, the lock member latches the engagingmember by abutment between the abutting portion and the staple in thestaple refill, and the lock member prevents the release of engagementbetween the engaging member and the staple refill.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of acartridge according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a set of six drawings showing the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an overall perspective view showing a state in which a staplerefill is attached to the cartridge of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view in which a part of the cartridgeof FIG. 3 is omitted;

FIG. 5 is a set of six drawings showing the cartridge of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a stapler main body on which thecartridge of FIG. 3 is mounted when viewed from one direction;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the stapler main body of FIG. 6when viewed from the other direction;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a state in which the staple refillis detached from the stapler main body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cartridge isdrawn from the stapler main body of FIG. 6;

FIG. 10 is an overall perspective view showing an embodiment of a staplerefill;

FIG. 11 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a sectional perspective view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a sectional side view of FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a set of six drawings showing the staple refill of FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a main part of FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory view showing an operation of the staplerefill;

FIG. 17 is an overall perspective view showing another embodiment of astaple refill; and

FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 17.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

An embodiment of a cartridge according to the invention will bedescribed below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 9. FIG. 1 is an overallperspective view showing an embodiment of the cartridge according to theinvention, FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing the cartridge whenviewed from a rear side, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view showing thecartridge when viewed from a front side. FIG. 2 is a set of six drawingsshowing the cartridge of FIG. 1, FIG. 2A is a top view of the cartridgewhen viewed from above, FIG. 2B is a side view showing the cartridgewhen viewed from one side, FIG. 2C a bottom view showing the cartridgewhen viewed from below, FIG. 2D is a front view showing the cartridgewhen viewed from a front side, and FIG. 2E is a rear view showing thecartridge when viewed from a rear side. FIG. 3 is an overall perspectiveview showing a state in which a staple refill is attached to thecartridge of FIG. 1, FIG. 3A is a perspective view showing the statewhen viewed from a rear side, and FIG. 3B is a perspective view showingthe state when viewed from a front side

FIG. 4 is an overall perspective view in which a part of the cartridgeof FIG. 3 is omitted, FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing thecartridge when viewed from a front side, and FIG. 4B is a perspectiveview showing the cartridge when viewed from a rear and lower side. FIG.5 is a set of six drawings showing the cartridge of FIG. 4, FIG. 5A is atop view of the cartridge when viewed from above, FIG. 5B is a side viewshowing the cartridge when viewed from one side, FIG. 5C a bottom viewshowing the cartridge when viewed from below, FIG. 5D is a front viewshowing the cartridge when viewed from a front side, FIG. 5E is a rearview showing the cartridge when viewed from a rear side, and FIG. 5F isa side view explaining an operation of the cartridge. FIG. 6 is aperspective view showing a stapler main body on which the cartridge ofFIG. 3 is mounted when viewed from one direction. FIG. 7 is aperspective view showing the stapler main body of FIG. 6 when viewedfrom the other direction. FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing a statein which the staple refill is detached from the stapler main body ofFIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a state in which thecartridge is drawn from the stapler main body of FIG. 6.

A cartridge 70 is drawably provided in a stapler main body 62. A storagechamber 82, an engaging member 85, and a lock member 95 are provided ina cartridge main body 70A. A staple refill 1 is detachably stored in thestorage chamber 82, the engaging member 85 engages one side of thestaple refill 1 stored in the storage chamber 82, and the lock member 95locks the engaging member 85.

The lock member 95 includes an abutting portion 97 which abuts on asheet-like connected staple S, discharged from a discharge port 46 ofthe staple refill 1, when the staple refill 1 is stored in the storagechamber 82. When the abutting portion 97 abuts on the sheet-likeconnected staple S, the lock member 95 locks the engaging member 85 toprevent disengagement of the staple refill 1. When the abutting portion97 does not abut on the sheet-like connected staple S, the lock member95 unlocks the engaging member 85 to enable the staple refill 1 to bedisengaged.

The lock member 95 is oscillatably provided in the cartridge main body70A. The abutting portion 97 is formed at one end and a latch portion 98is formed at the other end. The abutting portion 97 emerges to theinside of the storage chamber 82 to abut on the sheet-like connectedstaple S through a through-hole 74 formed in the cartridge main body70A. In the latch portion 98, when the abutting portion 97 abuts on thesheet-like connected staple S, the lock member 95 oscillates in a latchdirection of the latch portion 98 to latch the engaging member 85. Whenthe abutting portion 97 does not abut on the sheet-like connected stapleS, the lock member 95 oscillates in an unlatch direction of the latchportion 98 to unlatch the engaging member 85.

The cartridge 70 includes the storage chamber 82, the engaging member85, and the lock member 95. The storage chamber 82 is attached to astapler 61 which binds sheets of paper with a staple, and the staplerefill 1 in which the staple is accommodated is detachably stored in thestorage chamber 82. The engaging member 85 engages the staple refill 1stored in the storage chamber 82 to prevent the disengagement from thestorage chamber 82. The lock member 95 latches the engaging member 85 toprevent the release between the staple refill 1 and the engaging member85. The lock member 95 includes the abutting portion 97 which abuts onthe staple accommodated in the staple refill 1. The engaging member 85is latched by the abutment between the abutting portion 97 and thestaple in the staple refill 1, which prevents the release of theengagement between the engaging member 85 and the staple refill 1.

The staple refill stored in the cartridge and the stapler main body inwhich the cartridge is drawably provided will be described before thedetailed description of the cartridge. FIG. 10 is an overall perspectiveview showing an embodiment of a staple refill. FIG. 11 is an explodedperspective view of FIG. 10. FIG. 12 is a sectional perspective view ofFIG. 10. FIG. 13 is a sectional side view of FIG. 10. FIG. 14 is a setof six drawings showing the staple refill of FIG. 10. FIG. 15 is asectional view showing a main part of FIG. 10. FIG. 16 is an explanatoryview showing an operation of the staple refill. FIG. 17 is an overallperspective view showing another embodiment of a staple refill. FIG. 18is an exploded perspective view of FIG. 17.

The staple refill 1 is detachably attached to the cartridge 70 providedin the stapler main body 62. As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, a refill mainbody 2 of the staple refill 1 includes a storage portion 40, thedischarge port 46, and a delivery passage 45. The sheet-like connectedstaple S wound in a roll shape is stored in the storage portion 40. Thedischarge port 46 discharges the sheet-like connected staple S stored inthe storage portion 40. The delivery passage 45 delivers a leading endportion S1 of the sheet-like connected staple S stored in the storageportion 40 to the discharge port 46.

The delivery passage 45 is curved upward from the discharge port 46toward the inside of the storage portion 40 so as to deliver the leadingend portion S1, located on the upper side of the sheet-like connectedstaple S, to the discharge port 46. A backward movement preventingmember 31 which prevents the sheet-like connected staple S from movingtoward the reverse side of the discharge port 46 (toward the side ofstorage portion 40) is provided in the delivery passage 45. The backwardmovement preventing member 31 is integrated with refill main body 2.

The backward movement preventing member 31 is formed such that a leadingedge 31 a slides on the side of a lower surface S3 of the sheet-likeconnected staple S to latch a connecting recess portion between thestaples. The delivery passage 45 includes a first guide passage 43 and asecond guide passage 42. The first guide passage 43 substantially formedin a linear shape is communicated with the discharge port 46. The secondguide passage 42 curved upward is communicated with the storage portion40. The backward movement preventing member 31 is provided in the secondguide passage 42 while being exposed.

The delivery passage 45 includes an upper guide surface 47 and a lowerguide surface 48. The upper guide surface 47 guides an upper surface S2of the sheet-like connected staple S, and the lower guide surface 48guides the lower surface S3 of the sheet-like connected staple S. Anupper guide surface 13 a of the second guide passage 42 is coupled to aninner surface 41 of the storage portion 40. A lower guide surface of thesecond guide passage 42 is formed by curved one surface 26 (on the sideof the discharge port 46) of a guide projection portion 25 projectedinto the storage portion 40. The backward movement preventing member 31is formed so as to be projected from one surface 26 (on the side of thedischarge port 46) of the guide projection portion 25. The other surface27 (on the side of the storage portion 40) of the guide projectionportion 25 is curved so as to guide the sheet-like connected staplesstored in the storage portion 40.

Projection strips 20 and 35 are provided in the inner surface of thestorage portion 40 of the refill main body 2. The projection strips 20and 35 slide on the outer surface of the sheet-like connected staple Swound in a roll shape, and smoothly rotate the sheet-like connectedstaple S. An opening 8 communicated with the storage portion 40 isformed in the refill main body 2.

Further, the staple refill will be described in detail. As shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, the refill main body 2 of the staple refill 1 includesan upper case 3 and a lower case 5 which is detachably fixed to theupper case 3. The upper case 3 is integrally formed by a syntheticresin, and includes an upper wall 6, a left wall 7 provided in the leftend of the upper wall 6, and a right wall 9 provided in the right end ofthe upper wall 6.

The upper wall 6 includes an upper semi-cylindrical wall 11, a verticalwall 12 whose upper end is coupled to a front end of the uppersemi-cylindrical wall 11, a curved wall 13 whose one end is coupled to alower end of the vertical wall 12, and a horizontal wall 15 whose rearend is coupled to the other end of the curved wall 13. The left wall 7and the right wall 9 include circular walls 7 a and 9 a and lower walls7 b and 9 b respectively. The lower walls 7 b and 9 b extending in asubstantially horizontal direction are coupled to lower ends of thecircular walls 7 a and 9 a, respectively. The lower walls 7 b and 9 bare projected downward from the horizontal wall 15. Latch holes 14 and14 are formed in the lower walls 7 b and 9 b. Further, an engaging shaft16 is formed near the latch hole 14 in the rear side in the lower walls7 b and 9 b.

A grip arm 18 extending backward is formed in the upper portion of theupper semi-cylindrical wall 11. A rib 19 reinforcing the curved wall 13is formed in the upper surface of the curved wall 13. The opening 8 isformed in the rear portion of the upper semi-cylindrical wall 11.Further, the guide projection strip 20 guiding the sheet-like connectedstaple S is provided in the inner surface of the upper wall 6 of theupper case 3, i.e., in the inner surfaces of the upper semi-cylindricalwall 11, the vertical wall 12, the curved wall 13, and the horizontalwall 15.

As shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, similarly to the upper case 3, the lowercase 5 is integrally formed by a synthetic resin, and includes a lowerwall 21. The lower wall 21 includes an arc wall 22 and a linear wall 23.The arc wall 22 is formed in a substantially quarter arc shape, and therear end of the linear wall 23 is coupled to the front end of the arcwall 22. The mound-shaped guide projection 25 is formed in the linearwall 23. One surface 26 (on the side of the discharge port 46) of theguide projection (guide projection portion) 25 is curved such that asubstantially constant gap is formed with the lower surface 13 a of thecurved wall 13 of the upper case 3. The other surface 27 (on the side ofthe storage portion 40) of the guide projection 25 is curved so as toform the arc like the arc wall 22. A top portion 29 of the guideprojection 25 is formed in a semi-circular shape.

A notch portion 30 is formed in a substantially intermediate portion ofthe guide projection 25. The pawl-shaped backward movement preventingmember 31 is integrally provided in the linear wall 23. The backwardmovement preventing member 31 is located in the notch portion 30, and isprojected from the curved one surface 26. In the linear wall 23, asubstantially U-shaped notch recessed portion 32 is formed in the frontportion, and the rear portion is formed so as to extend beyond the arcwall 22. The guide band (projection strip) 35 guiding the sheet-likeconnected staple S is projected in the inner surface of the lower wall21 of the lower case 5, i.e., in the inner surfaces of the arc wall 22,the guide projection 25, and the linear wall 23. Latch pawls 36 and 36are formed on both sides of the lower wall 21, and are detachablylatched in the latch holes 14 and 14 of the upper case 3.

In the staple refill 1, when the lower case 5 is fitted between thelower wall 7 b of the left wall 7 and the lower wall 9 b of the rightwall 9 of the upper case 3, the latch pawls 36 and 36 of the lower case5 are latched in the latch holes 14 and 14 of the upper case 3 toassemble the refill main body 2. In the assembly, as shown in FIG. 12,the sheet-like connected staple S is placed in the lower case 5, whenthe sheet-like connected staple S is stored in the upper case 3 suchthat the leading end portion S1 of the sheet-like connected staple Swound counterclockwise is located in the upper portion of the upper case3.

In the refill main body 2, the cylindrical storage chamber 40 is formedby the upper semi-cylindrical wall 11 and vertical wall 12 of the upperwall 6, the arc wall 22 and the other surface (on the side of thestorage portion 40) 27 of the guide projection (guide projectionportion) 25 of the lower case 5, and the left wall 7 and right wall 9.The sheet-like connected staple S is positioned on the lowest linearwall 23 by the arc wall 22 of the lower case 5 and the other surface 27of the guide projection 25.

In the refill main body 2, the second guide passage 42, which is curvedsmoothly upward, is formed by the lower surface 13 a of the curved wall13 of the upper case 3, one surface (on the side of the discharge port46) 26 of the guide projection 25 of the lower case 5, and the left wall7 and right wall 9. The second guide passage 42 is upwardly curvedtoward the side of the storage portion 40, and is communicated with thestorage portion 40. In the refill main body 2, the substantially linearfirst guide passage 43 is formed by a lower surface 15 a of thehorizontal wall 15 of the upper case 3, an upper surface 23 a of thelinear wall 23 of the lower case 5, and the left wall 7 and right wall9. That is, the delivery passage 45 is formed by the first guide passage43 and the second guide passage 42. The discharge port 46 is formed atthe front end of the delivery passage 45, and the sheet-like connectedstaple S is sequentially discharged from the leading end portion S1.

The delivery passage 45 includes the upper guide surface 47 guiding theupper surface S2 of the sheet-like connected staple S and the lowerguide surface 48 guiding the lower surface S3 of the sheet-likeconnected staple S. The upper guide surface 47 is formed by the lowersurface 15 a of the horizontal wall 15 of the upper case 3 and the lowersurface 13 a of the curved wall 13 of the upper case 3. The lower guidesurface 48 is formed by the upper surface 23 a of the linear wall 23 ofthe lower case 5 and one surface (on the side of the discharge port 46)26 of the guide projection 25. In the upper guide surface 47 of thedelivery passage 45, the two guide projection strips 20 are providedalong a moving direction of the sheet-like connected staple S. The guideprojection strip 20 is a strip-shaped projection portion which isslightly projected from the upper guide surface 47 toward the side ofthe sheet-like connected staple S. The guide projection strip 20 reducesa contact area between the upper guide surface 47 and the sheet-likeconnected staple S to decrease slide resistance in moving the sheet-likeconnected staple S, and thereby the sheet-like connected staple S issmoothly drawn forth. The notch recessed portion 32 is provided at aposition facing the horizontal wall 15 of the upper guide surface 47 ofthe lower guide surface 48. The notch recessed portion 32 is a portionwhich brings a feeding pawl (feeding roller) of the stapler main body 50into contact with the lower surface S3 of the sheet-like connectedstaple S. The sheet-like connected staple S is drawn from the storageportion 40 by the notch recessed portion 32, and the sheet-likeconnected staple S is fed to the discharge port 46.

The backward movement preventing member 31 is projected toward theinside of the second guide passage 42, and the leading edge 31 a extendsto a neighborhood of the lower surface 13 a of the curved wall 13. Thebackward movement preventing member 31 can be bent due to elasticity ofthe synthetic resin material. The leading edge 31 a of the backwardmovement preventing member 31 slides on the lower surface S3 of thesheet-like connected staple S to latch the connecting recess portionbetween the staples of the sheet-like connected staple S, which preventsthe backward movement of the sheet-like connected staple S to the sideof the storage portion 40. The shape of the backward movement preventingmember 31 is not particularly limited. For example, the backwardmovement preventing member 31 can obliquely be provided as shown in FIG.15A, the backward movement preventing member 31 can be provided in asubstantially L-shape as shown in FIG. 15B, and the backward movementpreventing member 31 can be provided in a substantially n-shape as shownin FIG. 15C. As described above, the backward movement preventing member31 is formed in a pawl shape, and the leading edge 31 a strongly pressesthe sheet-like connected staples (particularly drawn-forth portion S5)against the side of the lower surface 13 a of the curved wall 13 duringtransportation. Therefore, there is no possibility that the sheet-likeconnected staple S is drawn from the staple refill 1 due to theexcessive shock or the like. In the case where the staple refill 1 isset, the portion projected from the lower wall 21 is returned into therefill, which rotates the backward movement preventing member 31counterclockwise. The rotation displacement slightly retreats theleading edge 31 a of the backward movement preventing member 31 from thelower surface 13 a of the curved wall 13 to decrease the pressing forceto the sheet-like connected staple S. Therefore, moving resistance ofthe sheet-like connected staple S toward the feeding direction isdecreased to perform the staple feeding more smoothly.

The staple refill 1, in which the leading end portion S1 of thesheet-like connected staple S is previously drawn to the discharge port46, is usually used. However, in the staple refill 1 in which theleading end portion S1 is not previously drawn from the discharge port46, a drawing-forth tape (not shown) provided in the leading end portionS1 of the sheet-like connected staple S is drawn from the discharge port46. When the drawing-forth tape is pulled, the sheet-like connectedstaple S provided in the storage chamber 40 of the staple refill 1 isrotated and the leading edge of the drawing-forth tape is positioned atthe discharge port 46. The staple refill 1 is attached to the cartridge70 which is detachably mounted to the stapler main body 62, and thecartridge 70 is amounted to the stapler main body 62. When the staplermain body 62 is driven, the leading end portion S1 of the sheet-likeconnected staple S is intermittently drawn toward the driver side byfeeding means (for example, feeding pawl and feeding roller). A rollwinding portion S4 of the sheet-like connected staple S is not placed ona drawn-forth portion S5, so that a load applied onto the feeding meansis decreased. The whole outer surfaces of the roll winding portion S4 ofthe sheet-like connected staple S do not come into contact with theinner surface of the storage chamber (storage portion) 40, but a part ofthe roll winding portion S4 comes into contact with the guide projectionstrip 20 and/or the guide band (projection strip) 35, so that thecontact area becomes small. Therefore, frictional resistance is reducedto further decrease the load applied onto the feeding means.

When the leading end port ion S1 of the sheet-like connected staple S isdrawn forth by feeding means 100 of the stapler main body 62, as shownin FIG. 16A, the drawn-forth portion S5 is brought into close contactwith the upper guide surface (the lower surface 13 a of the curved wall13) of the delivery passage 45, and the leading edge 31 a of thebackward movement preventing member 31 slides slightly on thedrawn-forth portion S5 of the sheet-like connected staple S. Therefore,the sheet-like connected staple S can securely be delivered while littleload is applied onto the feeding means. When the leading end portion S1of the sheet-like connected staple S is drawn back by a weight of theroll winding portion S4 in the storage portion 40, as shown in FIG. 16B,the drawn-forth portion S5 comes into close contact with one surface 26of the guide projection 25, and the leading edge 31 a, projected fromone surface 26, of the backward movement preventing member 31 securelylatches the sheet-like connected staple S.

In the staple refill 1, the roll winding portion S4 is decreased as thesheet-like connected staple S is drawn forth. As shown in FIG. 16C, thesheet-like connected staple S is delivered to the delivery passage 45after the drawn-forth portion S5 of the sheet-like connected staple S islifted by the top portion 29 of the guide projection 25, so that thestaple refill 1 also functions in the same manner described above. Thetop portion 29 of the guide projection 25 is formed in a semi-circularshape, so that the guide projection 25 can smoothly guide the sheet-likeconnected staple S.

Thus, the staple refill 1 can store the sheet-like connected staple Swound in a roll shape in the storage portion 40 of the refill main body2 while the leading end portion S1 is placed in the upper portion of thestorage portion 40, and the roll winding portion S4 is not placed on thedrawn-forth portion S5 when the sheet-like connected staple S is fedfrom the discharge port 46. Therefore, the load applied onto the feedingmeans is decreased.

In the conventional staple refill, a backward movement preventing memberslides on a linearly extended portion of the sheet-like connectedstaple, and it is difficult to adjust the contact pressure of thebackward movement preventing member in the slide. On the contrary, inthe staple refill 1, since the drawing-forth of the sheet-like connectedstaple is caused to differ from the drawing-back of the sheet-likeconnected staple in the latching force of the backward movementpreventing member 31 by utilizing the curved delivery passage 45 asdescribed above, the latching force of the backward movement preventingmember 31 is increased in drawing back the sheet-like connected staplerather than in drawing forth the sheet-like connected staple. Therefore,it is not necessary to adjust the contact pressure of the backwardmovement preventing member 31.

In the staple refill 1, similarly to the feeding means of the staplermain body 62, the backward movement preventing member 31 is pressed toengage the lower surface S3 of the sheet-like connected staple S, wherea bonding agent is not applied and a bonding tape does not adhere in alengthwise direction. Therefore, the backward movement of the sheet-likeconnected staple S can securely be prevented, and the backward movementpreventing member 31 can be arranged substantially in the center of thelower surface S3, so that the sheet-like connected staple S can belatched in a well-balanced manner.

In the staple refill 1, since the backward movement preventing member 31is integrally formed, it is not necessary to install the backwardmovement preventing member made of a metal material in the refill mainbody unlike the conventional staple refill. Therefore, the assembly ofthe staple refill 1 can easily be performed, and weight reduction andcost reduction of the refill main body 2 can be achieved. Disposal ofthe staple refill 1 is easy to perform because it is not necessary toseparate the staple refill 1 into each material.

In the refill main body 2, since the opening 8 is formed in the rearportion of the upper semi-cylindrical wall 11 as described above, thesheet-like connected staple S stored in the storage chamber 40 can befixed so as not to move during the transportation by mounting a pressingmember such as a cushion material from the opening 8 in packaging thestaple refill 1, which allow the leading edge position of the sheet-likeconnected staple S not to be shifted. In the usage of the staple refill1, a state such as a remaining amount of sheet-like connected staple Scan also be confirmed by utilizing the opening 8.

In the staple refill 1, the backward movement preventing member 31 isintegrated with the lower wall 21 of the lower case 5. Alternatively, asshown in FIGS. 17 and 18, substantially L-shaped engaging projections 53and 53 are formed on both sides of a plate-shaped lower wall 52 of alower case 57, both ends of an insertion plate 56 including backwardmovement preventing members 55, which are formed substantially in aninverse U-shape and separately formed by a synthetic resin, are engagedto the engaging projections 53 and 53, and the backward movementpreventing member 55 may be provided in the lower wall 52 of the lowercase 57. The backward movement preventing members 55 which are formedsubstantially in an inverse U-shape are projected from long holes 60formed in curved one surface 59 of a substantially mound-shaped guideprojection 58, and press the sheet-like connected staple S.

The stapler main body 62 of the stapler 61 is attached to a motor-drivenstapler, a copying machine, and the like. As shown in FIG. 9, acartridge storage portion 63 is formed, and the cartridge 70 is drawablyprovided in the cartridge storage portion 63. Engaging recessed portions65 and 65 which are opened backward are formed on both sides of thecartridge storage portion 63. Arm members 66 and 66 biased clockwise byelastic members (not shown) are provided on both sides of the cartridgestorage portion 63, and the engaging recessed portion 65 and 65 areclosed by leading end portions 67 and 67 of the arm members 66 and 66.

In the stapler main body 62, a forming plate and an extruding driver arearranged in the front portion of the cartridge storage portion 63. Theforming plate forms the linear staple located at the leading edge of thesheet-like connected staple S in a U-shape, and the extruding driverextrudes the staple deformed in a U-shape. A driving device whichintermittently feeds the sheet-like connected staple S onto the driverside is provided in the lower portion of the cartridge storage portion63.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cartridge main body 70A of the cartridge70 includes a bottom plate 71, a right guide plate 72 provided in aright-end front portion of the bottom plate 71, a right side plate 73provided in a right-end rear portion of the bottom plate 71, a leftguide plate 75 provided in a left-end front portion of the bottom plate71, a left side plate 76 provided in a left-end rear portion of thebottom plate 71, a substantially U-shaped rear plate 77 provided in therear end of the bottom plate 71, and a substantially U-shaped frontplate 79 provided in the front end of the bottom plate 71. In thecartridge main body 70A, the storage chamber 82 whose upper portion isopened is formed by the bottom plate 71, the right guide plate 72, theright side plate 73, the left guide plate 75, the left side plate 76,the rear plate 77, and the front plate 79.

As shown in FIG. 5, a rectangular opening 78 is formed in the frontportion of the bottom plate 71. As shown in FIG. 3, a staple punch-outguide 80 is provided in the front portion of the cartridge 70. A latchportion 81 which latches the front portion 2 a on the side of thedischarge port 46 of the staple refill 1 is formed in the staplepunch-out guide 80.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the engaging member 85 bend in asubstantially U-shape and the long and thin lock members 95 and 95 areprovided in the cartridge main body 70A. The engaging member 85 includesa movable plate 86, a left engaging plate 87 provided at the left end ofthe movable plate 86, and a right engaging plate 88 provided at theright end of the movable plate 86. Engaging projections 89 and 89 areformed in the left engaging plate 87 and the right engaging plate 88,respectively. Latch grooves 90 and 90 are formed on both sides of themovable plate 86. The left engaging plate 87 is attached inside the leftside plate 76 while being rotatable by a support shaft 91. As shown inFIG. 1, the right engaging plate 88 is attached inside the right sideplate 73 while being rotatable by the support shaft 91. The movableplate 86 is located on the backside of the bottom plate 71, andintegrally attached to the lower ends of the left engaging plate 87 andright engaging plate 88 which are projected from the openings formed onthe both sides of the bottom plate 71. In the engaging member 85, themovable plate 86 is pressed by one end of each of elastic members 92 and92, and biased in the engaging direction (in the clockwise direction) ofthe engaging projections 89 and 89.

The lock members 95 and 95 are oscillatably provided on the both sidesin the backside of the bottom plate 71 of the cartridge main body 70A bypivots 96 and 96. In the lock member 95, the abutting portion 97 isformed at one end and the latch portion 98 is formed at the other end.The abutting portion 97 emerges to the inside of the storage chamber 82to abut on the sheet-like connected staple S through the through-hole 74formed in the bottom plate 71 in the cartridge main body 70A. Thethrough-holes 74 and 74 are formed near the discharge port 46 when thestaple refill 1 is stored in the storage chamber 82, and thethrough-holes 74 and 74 are formed on the both sides of the bottom plate71. The latch portions 98 and 98 include latch projections 99 and 99which can be latched in the latch grooves 90 and 90 of the movable plate86 respectively.

In the lock member 95, the side of the latch portion 98 is heavier thanthe side of the abutting portion 97. The lock member 95 is biasedclockwise about the pivot 96. Accordingly, in the cartridge 70, in aninitial state in which the staple refill 1 is not stored in the storagechamber 82, the abutting portion 97 of the lock member 95 is projectedto the inside of the storage chamber 82, and the latch projection 99 ofthe latch portion 98 is separated from the latch groove 90 of themovable plate 86. The feeding means 100 is provided in the backside ofthe bottom plate 71, and the feeding means 100 includes a feeding pawlwhich intermittently feeds the sheet-like connected staple S from theopening 78. As shown in FIG. 3, a cover 83 is detachably attached to thebackside of the bottom plate 71 by fixing means such as a latch pawl anda screw. The pivot 96 of the lock member 95 is pivoted to the cover 83,and the other end of the elastic member 92 is held by the cover 83.

As described above, the rear plate 77 of the cartridge main body 70A isformed in a substantially U-shape. As shown in FIG. 1, the rear plate 77includes a rear face plate 77 a, a left bent plate 77 b provided at theleft end of the rear face plate 77 a, and a right bent plate 77 cprovided at the right end of the rear face plate 77 a. The left bentplate 77 b is bonded to an outer surface of the left side plate 76, andthe right bent plate 77 c is bonded to the outer surface of the rightside plate 73. Attachment shafts 112 are formed in the upper portions ofthe left bent plate 77 b and right bent plate 77 c, and guide shafts 113are provided in the lower front portions of the attachment shafts 112.

As shown in FIG. 9, an operation lever 105 is rotatably attached to thecartridge 70. The operation lever 105 includes a handle portion 106 andarms 107 and 107 provided at both ends of the handle portion 106. Thelower portions of the arms 107 and 107 are rotatably attached to theattachment shafts 112 and 112. Bent engaging pieces 109 and 109 areintegrally formed in the lower ends of the arms 107 and 107,respectively. Intermediate portions 111 and 111 of the arms 107 and 107are recessed toward the inside, and the intermediate portions 111 and111 are latched by substantially L-shaped latch portions 115 and 115formed in the rear portions of the left side plate 76 and right sideplate 73, respectively. When the arms 107 and 107 are latched by thelatch portions 115 and 115, the operation lever 105 is not rotatedclockwise.

In the cartridge 70 having the above-described configuration, when thestaple refill 1 is stored in the storage chamber 82, the front portion 2a of the staple refill 1 is latched by the latch portion 81. Theengaging shafts 16 and 16 of the staple refill 1 press the engagingprojections 89 and 89, formed in the left engaging plate 87 and rightengaging plate 88 of the engaging member 85, against the elasticity ofthe elastic members 92 and 92. When the engaging shafts 16 and 16 climbover the engaging projections 89 and 89, the engaging shafts 16 and 16are engaged by the engaging projections 89 and 89 returned to theoriginal positions by the elastic members 92 and 92. Thus, the staplerefill 1 is fixed in the storage chamber 82 of the cartridge main body70A.

When the cartridge 70 is pressed into the cartridge storage portion 63of the stapler main body 62 as shown in FIG. 9, the guide shafts 113 and113 of the cartridge 70 engage the engaging recessed portions 65 and 65while rotating the arm members 66 and 66 counterclockwise against theelasticity of the elastic member, and the guide shafts 113 and 113 arefixed by the engaging recessed portions 65 and 65 and the leading endportions 67 of the arm members 66 and 66 returned to the originalpositions. Thus, the cartridge 70 is attached to the stapler main body62. As shown in FIG. 6, the engaging pieces 109 and 109 engage the armmembers 66 and 66 to be rotated counterclockwise as shown in FIG. 6, andthe operation lever 105 is held in a substantially vertical state.

When the stapler main body 62 is driven, the sheet-like connected stapleS in the refill main body 2 is drawn from the discharge port 46 by thefeeding means 100, the leading end portion S1 of the sheet-likeconnected staple S abuts on the abutting portions 97 and 97 of the lockmembers 95 and 95. The lock members 95 and 95 are rotatedcounterclockwise, and the latch projections 99 and 99 of the latchportions 98 and 98 latch the latch grooves 90 and 90 of the movableplate 86 to lock the engaging member 85. Because the left engaging plate87 and the right engaging plate 88 cannot be rotated, the engagingshafts 16 and 16 of the refill main body 2 are fixed by the engagingprojections 89 and 89 formed in the left engaging plate 87 and the rightengaging plate 88, and the staple refill 1 cannot be detached from thecartridge 70 in a period during which the sheet-like connected staple Sabuts on the abutting portions 97 and 97 of the lock members 95 and 95,i.e., in the period during which the sheet-like connected staple Sremains in the refill main body 2.

In the case where all the sheet-like connected staples S are dischargedfrom the refill main body 2, the abutting portions 97 and 97 of the lockmembers 95 and 95 do not abut on the sheet-like connected staple S, sothat the abutting portions 97 and 97 of the lock members 95 and 95 areprojected into the storage chamber 82 through the through-holes 74 and74. The lock members 95 and 95 are rotated clockwise, and the latchprojections 99 and 99 of the latch portions 98 and 98 are separated fromthe latch grooves 90 and 90 of the movable plate 86 to unlock theengaging member 85. The left engaging plate 87 and the right engagingplate 88 can be rotated against the elasticity of the elastic member 92,so that the staple refill 1 can be detached from the cartridge 70. Inthe case where the staple refill 1 is detached from the cartridge 70, asshown in FIGS. 6 and 8, only the grip arm 18 of the staple refill 1 canbe grasped to pull up the staple refill 1 while the cartridge 70 ismounted on the stapler main body 62. As shown in FIG. 4, when the staplerefill 1 is pulled up, the engaging shafts 16 and 16 of the refill mainbody 2 press the engaging projections 89 and 89 formed in the leftengaging plate 87 and right engaging plate 88 of the engaging member 85against the elasticity of the elastic members 92 and 92. The staplerefill 1 disengages the cartridge 70 when the engaging shafts 16 and 16climb over the engaging projections 89 and 89. As shown in FIG. 8, thestaple refill 1 can be stored in the storage chamber 82 of the cartridge70 even if the cartridge 70 is mounted on the stapler main body 62.

As described above, the staple refill 1 cannot be detached from thecartridge 70 when the sheet-like connected staple S remains in therefill main body 2. However, the cartridge 70 can be taken from thestapler main body 62. When the operation lever 105 provided in thecartridge 70 is rotated clockwise, the engaging pieces 109 and 109counterclockwise press down the arm members 66 and 66 against theelasticity of the elastic member to open the engaging recessed portions65 and 65. In this state of things, the guide shafts 113 and 113disengage the engaging recessed portions 65 and 65 by pulling theoperation lever 105, which allows the cartridge 70 to be taken from thestapler main body 62.

Thus, in the cartridge 70, the engaging member 85 engages the engagingshaft 16 of the staple refill 1 when the staple refill 1 is stored inthe storage chamber 82. When the abutting portion 97 of the lock member95 abuts on the sheet-like connected staple S discharged from thedischarge port 46 of the staple refill 1, the lock member 95 locks theengaging member 85 to hold the engaging state, and the release of thestaple refill 1 is prevented. When all the sheet-like connected staplesS of the staple refill 1 are discharged, since the abutting portion 97does not abut on the sheet-like connected staple S, the lock member 95unlocks the engaging member 85 to enable the release of the staplerefill 1. In the cartridge 70, the staple refill 1 cannot be detachedunless all the sheet-like connected staples S of the staple refill 1 aredischarged, so that the breakage of the sheet-like connected staple Scan be prevented. As a result, the obstacle such as the clogging causedby the breakage can be eliminated.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

In the cartridge according to the invention, when the staple refill isstored in the storage chamber, the engaging member engages one side ofthe staple refill. When the sheet-like connected staple is dischargedfrom the discharge port of the staple refill by the feeding means of thestapler, because the abutting portion of the lock member abuts on thesheet-like connected staple discharged, the lock member locks theengaging member to hold the engaging state of the engaging member, whichprevents the release of the staple refill. When all the sheet-likeconnected staples are discharged from the staple refill, because theabutting portion of the lock member does not abut on the sheet-likeconnected staple, the lock member unlocks the engaging member to enablethe release of the staple refill. Thus, in the cartridge according tothe invention, the staple refill cannot be detached unless all thesheet-like connected staples are discharged from the staple refill, sothat the breakage of the sheet-like connected staple can be prevented.As a result, the cartridge according to the invention has the effectthat the obstacle such as the clogging caused by the breakage can beeliminated.

In the cartridge according to the invention, the lock member isoscillatably provided in the cartridge main body. When one of abuttingportions of the lock member emerges into the storage chamber to abut onthe sheet-like connected staple through the through-hole formed in thecartridge main body, the other latch portion of the lock memberoscillates in the latching direction to latch the engaging member. Whenthe abutting portion does not abut on the sheet-like connected staple,the latch portion oscillates in the unlatching direction to unlatch theengaging member. Thus, the cartridge according to the invention has theeffect that the lock member locks the staple refill when the lock memberdetects the existence of the sheet-like connected staple while the lockmember unlocks the staple refill when the lock member does not detectthe existence of the sheet-like connected staple.

DESCRIPTION OF THE REFERENCE NUMERALS AND SIGNS

S sheet-like connected staple

S1 leading end portion

S2 upper surface

S3 lower surface

S4 roll winding portion

S5 drawn-forth portion

1 staple refill

2 refill main body

2 a front portion

3 upper case

5 lower case

6 upper wall

7 left wall

7 a circular wall

7 b lower wall

8 opening

9 right wall

9 a circular wall

9 b lower wall

11 upper semi-cylindrical wall

12 vertical wall

13 curved wall

13 a lower surface (upper guide surface)

14 latch hole

15 horizontal wall

15 a lower surface

16 engaging shaft

18 grip arm

19 rib

20 guide projection strip

21 lower wall

22 arc wall

23 linear wall

23 a upper surface

25 guide projection (guide projection portion)

26 one surface (lower guide surface)

27 the other surface

29 top portion

30 notch portion

31 backward movement preventing member

31 a leading edge

32 notch recessed portion

35 guide band (projection strip)

36 latch pawl

40 storage chamber (storage portion)

42 second guide passage

43 first guide passage

45 delivery passage

46 discharge port

47 upper guide surface

48 lower guide surface

52 lower wall

53 engaging projection

55 backward movement preventing member

56 insertion plate

57 lower case

58 guide projection

59 one surface

60 long hole

61 stapler

62 stapler main body

63 cartridge storage portion

65 engaging recessed portion

66 arm member

67 leading end portion

70 cartridge

70A cartridge main body

71 bottom plate

72 right guide plate

73 right side plate

74 through-hole

75 left guide plate

76 left side plate

77 rear plate

77 a rear face plate

77 b left bent plate

77 c right bent plate

78 opening

79 front plate

80 staple punch-out guide

81 latch portion

82 storage chamber

83 cover

85 engaging member

86 movable plate

87 left engaging plate

88 right engaging plate

89 engaging projection

90 latch groove

91 support shaft

92 elastic member

95 lock member

96 pivot

97 abutting portion

98 latch portion

99 latch projection

100 feeding means

105 operation lever

106 handle portion

107 arm

109 engaging piece

111 intermediate portion

112 attachment shaft

113 guide shaft

115 latch portion

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The invention can be applied to a motor-driven stapler with which acopying machine, a printing machine, and the like are equipped.

1. A cartridge drawably provided in a stapler main body comprising: acartridge main body provided with a storage chamber for detachablystoring a staple refill, an engaging member for engaging one side of thestaple refill stored in the storage chamber and a lock member forlocking the engaging member; wherein the lock member has an abuttingportion for abutting on a sheet-like connected staple discharged from adischarge port of the staple refill when the staple refill is stored insaid storage chamber; wherein the lock member is configured to lock theengaging member to prevent the release of the staple refill when theabutting portion abuts on the sheet-like connected staple; and, whereinthe lock member is configured to unlock said engaging member to enablethe release of the staple refill when the abutting portion does not abuton the sheet-like connected staple.
 2. A cartridge according to claim 1,wherein the lock member is oscillatably provided in the cartridge mainbody, having the abutting portion formed at one end of the lock memberand a latch portion formed at the other end; wherein the abuttingportion emerges into the storage chamber to abut on the sheet-likeconnected staple through a through-hole formed in said cartridge mainbody; wherein the latch portion latches said engaging member byoscillating the lock member in a latching direction of the latch portionwhen the abutting portion abuts on the sheet-like connected staple; and,wherein the lock member unlatches the engaging member by oscillating thelock member in an unlatching direction of the latch portion when theabutting portion does not abut on the sheet-like connected staple.
 3. Acartridge attached to a stapler for binding sheets of paper with astaple comprising a storage chamber for detachably storing a staplerefill accommodating the staple, an engaging member engaging the staplerefill stored in the storage chamber for preventing release of thestaple refill from the storage chamber and a lock member latching theengaging member for preventing the release of the engagement between thestaple refill and the engaging member; wherein the lock member includesan abutting portion abutting on the staple accommodated in the staplerefill; wherein the lock member latches said engaging member by abutmentbetween the abutting portion and the staple in the staple refill; and,wherein the lock member prevents the release of engagement between theengaging member and the staple refill.